Android App Permissions

The cluster focuses on user control over Android app permissions, debates on fine-grained access, comparisons to iOS, rooting for better management, and concerns about apps abusing broad permissions.

➡️ Stable 0.7x Security
4,414
Comments
19
Years Active
5
Top Authors
#4751
Topic ID

Activity Over Time

2008
1
2009
9
2010
58
2011
102
2012
143
2013
276
2014
412
2015
304
2016
348
2017
234
2018
308
2019
349
2020
276
2021
312
2022
320
2023
282
2024
261
2025
393
2026
26

Keywords

e.g KDE SD NoRootFirewall TCP IMEI CyanogenMod IP WhatsApp OS android permissions app apps permission access android apps phone grant fine grained

Sample Comments

yonatan8070 • Dec 11, 2023 • View on HN

Android applications have as much or as little access as you give them, you don't have to grant every permission an app asks for.

rtkwe • Jul 11, 2016 • View on HN

If you're on Android it's done properly through app permissions and doesn't encounter this issue.

junon • Mar 17, 2024 • View on HN

Even with apps, you still do not have the fine grained permissions you'd think you'd get. Have you tried?

y4mi • Dec 17, 2015 • View on HN

root your phone and install a permission manager. or use cyanogenmod and enable the built-in.

oh_hello • Nov 9, 2018 • View on HN

On iOS and now newer versions of Android you are able to individually grant and revoke permissions. What information are you expecting them to extract via the app that you can't block?

auiya • Feb 22, 2019 • View on HN

So you're saying they use the Android app permissions model?

pasbesoin • Jun 24, 2011 • View on HN

Selective Permissions For Androidhttp://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=2684449alsohttp://news.ycombinator.com/submitted?id=moxie

nsonha • Mar 31, 2025 • View on HN

Android is so broken, each app query should be explicitly approved by user, instead of by reviewer like this.

jdlyga • Oct 18, 2018 • View on HN

This is an android thing right? They gotta add more fine grained permissions

Conlectus • Feb 11, 2016 • View on HN

This is already part of the built-in permissions management in the latest version of android, no?